Best athletes to train in Manila, says Angping

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines – Philippine Sports Commission chair Harry Angping yesterday announced plans of bringing the most impressive performers in the Palarong Pambansa to Manila to train as part of the agency’s thrust to strengthen grassroots development.

“The PSC has the responsibility of helping national sports associations to discover, tap and develop talents,” said Angping, who quietly flew into this Eastern Visayan port city in the morning to personally look at the talents here before flying back to Manila late afternoon.

Angping, who will be represented by PSC commissioner Fr. Vic Uy in the closing rites today, particularly took notice of Big City tanker Johansen Aguilar.

Aguilar, 17, at press time, swam his way to three new meet records and harvested three gold medals in the process to close in on the Most Outstanding Athlete award, which went to trackster Isidro del Prado Jr. last year in Puerto Princesa.

“He’s tall, he looked really impressive,” said Angping after seeing and reading about the lanky the Ermita, Manila native in The STAR.

Jesabel Montibon of Western Visayas (elementary 800 meters), Mervin Guarte of Mimaropa (secondary 800m) and swimmers Omar Philip Dacera of Cotabato Region, who smashed two meet marks, and Christen Mercado of Calabarzon are the other impressive performers in this weeklong meet.

Mercado was the most recent of record breakers, having shattered the four-year mark of Calabarzon’s Banjo Borja in the 50m elementary backstroke.

High jump gold medal winner Patrick Unso, son of former 80s track star Renato, and some boxers are also expected to be included to the RP pool because of their notable efforts. – Joey Villar